Start with your goals
Before learning to fly, consider the place you want flying to have in your life. Is it a leisure interest, or are you seriously considering a career? Then consider where you want to train, the time you can commit and the type of aircraft you want to fly. Transport Canada’s guide to choosing a flight school starts with these questions, rather than prescribing the same course for everyone.
Flying for leisure
Start with where you want to train, the time you can commit and the type of aircraft you want to fly. Then look at the relevant permit or licence requirements, how training could fit into your routine and how schools organise their courses.
This perspective helps you explore the information; it does not determine which licence you should pursue.
Read the full training guideLicences and hiring
If you are considering a flying career, research licensing and employers’ hiring requirements separately. Start with Transport Canada for licensing, then check the relevant employers’ own information.
A licence does not guarantee a job, and there is no single course sequence that every learner must follow.
Read the full training guideCompare like for like
Start with the flight training unit search, then compare each school’s courses, facilities, instructor arrangements and fee information. Give schools the same description of your needs and keep their current written replies.
The regulatory directory is a starting point for verification. A listing is not an endorsement by Flight Radius, a partnership or confirmation of available places.
Read the full training guideLicences and training
Canada issues different pilot permits and licences, each with its own requirements. You may encounter terms such as Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). For aeroplanes, the minimum age for licence issue is 17 for a PPL and 18 for a CPL. These are the ages for receiving a licence, not for starting your first lesson. Applications also involve medical fitness, knowledge, skill and flight experience requirements.
Training extends beyond the cockpit. Transport Canada’s student guide covers a medical certificate, radio operator certificate, Student Pilot Permit, PSTAR, dual and solo flight training, a written examination and a flight test. Day-to-day learning also includes preparation, pre-flight briefings and post-flight debriefings, with progress documented in a training record. Student solo flights require authorisation and instructor supervision. Check the requirements for the licence you intend to pursue and the standards that apply.
The student training guide and licensing information explain these stages and requirements.
Considering a career
Research licensing and employers’ hiring requirements separately. Start with Transport Canada’s licensing information, then check the relevant employers’ own requirements. Holding a licence does not guarantee a job. Different learners’ goals cannot be reduced to one compulsory course package.
Describe your previous learning, availability and goals, then ask schools to confirm the relevant courses and application requirements. This site does not calculate a suitability score from personal information or predict admission or employment outcomes.
Compare on one basis
When comparing schools, start with Transport Canada’s Flight Training Units Search. Then review each school’s information and check its aircraft, facilities, instructor arrangements and fee structure. The directory is a starting point for research. Flight Radius does not use a listing to rank a school or present it as a recommended partner.
Before comparing the amounts in school quotes, establish what each includes: course scope, billable items, payment arrangements, training schedules and accommodation. Asking each school the same questions gives a clearer basis for comparison than a single headline price. This is an approach to comparison, not an estimate of tuition, completion dates or outcomes.
Compare costs and planningBased on Transport Canada’s public information, checked in October 2026. Confirm specific training requirements, school arrangements and application conditions with the relevant organisation.View the sources.